People / Interviews
Frozen’s Queen Elsa living in Portbury
“It’s just sort of massively blown up, really,” says Alex Jenkins from Portbury, a sales assistant and now the leading Queen Elsa lookalike in the UK.
It started with just a few people saying how much they thought that 20-year-old Alex looked like the Snow Queen from hit Disney animated film Frozen. This was in January 2013 when Alex hadn’t even seen the film.
“Then it started increasing; people wanted to have their pictures taken with me at work and then I was spotted in Broadmead by the manager of the Arcade. I was asked to meet and have photos taken with Frozen fans in the St James’ Arcade snow globe this Christmas. I’ve absolutely loved this and the kids have just been overjoyed!”
is needed now More than ever
Working in the children’s department of John Lewis at Cribbs Causeway means that Alex gets ‘spotted’ all the time.
“Some of my colleagues have started saying they can’t believe they work with me. I wear glasses, so I did think that they would act as a bit of a disguise, perhaps. But I can’t seem to hide. My hair and eyes are as they are. It’s like I can’t just be Alex, anymore!
“I’m so excited about the opportunities that this could bring for me and about the future. She’s such an inspirational character in the film and such a famous Queen among Disney now, to be considered that I look like her feels phenomenal.”
Alex started her Elsa journey around four months ago when she auditioned at the Pineapple Dance Studios to play the queen of Arendelle at Disneyland Paris. She won the part, but decided to not pursue it. Soon after, Alex, who also trains at Bristol Old Vic and is a dancer and professional singer, was spotted in Broadmead and the quantity of those seeking photos with her sky-rocketed.
“To be the best lookalike is amazing. I’m just delighted that it’s so easy to be the character naturally and how happy it is making the many fans and children happy. It makes me feel excited when I see the children’s faces light up.”
Alex is now taking professional singing lessons so that she can sing Elsa’s songs – such as Let It Go, on constant repeat at ice rinks up and down the country – perfectly.
To get into character, Alex watches a few scenes from the film and listens to its famous songs. “I focus a lot on general characteristics of Elsa and how she portrays herself physically,” says Alex. “If I really think about the story, how Elsa feels emotionally and acts physically – it helps me push my imagination and become her.”
Photos by Jon Kent
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